Advice from a grumpy old man :)

[Mark McLeod]

All rookies should know that I heard Lead Inspectors respond well to candy and donuts, too...

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

All rookies should know that I heard Lead Inspectors respond well to candy and donuts, too...

All rookies should also remember that "but I heard it on chiefdelphi!" is not an excuse, and although they'll probably still eat your candy and donuts, if your robot doesn't follow the rules the Inspectors will not pass you no matter how full they are.

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by BJC

All rookies should also remember that "but I heard it on chiefdelphi!" is not an excuse, and although they'll probably still eat your candy and donuts, if your robot doesn't follow the rules the Inspectors will not pass you no matter how full they are.

But they read this on ChiefDelphi ..........

[BJC]

Touche!

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

All rookies should know that I heard Lead Inspectors respond well to candy and donuts, too...

That's funny - I remember running into a bunch of robot inspectors, oh, ok - went looking for them - at the Championship event and they all wanted coffee. I have no.idea.why.

Edit: I should contribute to the thread - please refrain from running at the event, esp. in the pit area. (It will just slow you down.)

Jane

[nathan.chupp]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

That's funny - I remember running into a bunch of robot inspectors, oh, ok - went looking for them - at the Championship event and they all wanted coffee. I have no.idea.why.

Edit: I should contribute to the thread - please refrain from running at the event, esp. in the pit area. (It will just slow you down.)

Jane

As a inspector i would always want coffee and at the Championship i never can sleep really. The inspectors can be your best friends and help you out. I know i'm busy helping out teams fixes there robot every year.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

All rookies should know that I heard Lead Inspectors respond well to candy and donuts, too...

So do Lead Inspection Managers....

Also respond well to "Please" and "Thank You."

See you in the pits.

[ChuckDickerson]

Keep the pit isles clear and your pits open and inviting. We are all busy but if you have your whole team of 20+ students and adults trying to cram into your pit I can almost guarantee they won't all fit and they will be spilling out cloging the isles. Sometimes less is more when it comes to the number of people working on something and the amount of work that gets done. Instead, your pit need only a few well trained pit crew while the rest of your team is elsewhere, preferably in the stands chearing for everyone else and, of course, scouting.

Make sure to always keep an eye out for that overwhelmed rookie standing about 5 feet outside your pit with that "deer in the headlight look" who probably needs help or wants to ask a question but is too scared to do so. Be open and inviting. Ask them if they have any questions or would like to get a closer look at something in your pit or on your robot. Drag them into your pit show them what they are wanting to see and spend time with them explaining what they want to know. If they need help and your not the right person for their problem get the right person for them. If you can't, take them to the lead inspector and help them explain their problem. The lead inspectors will do everthing in their power to get them the help they need.

[rsisk]

Thanks Indy... Just went out to all my rookie teams.

My word of advice, when the judges visit your pit, be aware that you probably only have 5 minutes with them. Make that 5 minutes count. If you have something they need to know, let them know it (they may not know to ask about it). Be sure to speak loud and clear (pits are noisy). Don't crowd the judges. Do not stand behind the judges, or let anyone on the team stand behind them.

Thanks all the volunteers at the regional.

[trilogy2826]

Originally Posted by rsisk

My word of advice, when the judges visit your pit, be aware that you probably only have 5 minutes with them. Make that 5 minutes count.

Make sure that you make the 5 minutes count with students talking and not mentors. Nothing looks more contrived than a mentor trying to explain this doo-dad or cool thing XYZ. If you are a mentor, ask a student to explain. If you are a student and don't know the answer, get another student that does. If the knowledgeable people are out on the field, let them know that they will be back after the match. Mentors and students alike: Prepare with information. Create a robot spec sheet to hand out, have a scrapbook on hand to show activities. Use your copious witholding allowance to demonstrate assembled mechanisms. Most importantly - Train the students and mentors that will be manning the pits. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way in making a good impression.

This goes for talking to anyone, not just judges.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by trilogy2826

Make sure that you make the 5 minutes count with students talking and not mentors. Nothing looks more contrived than a mentor trying to explain this doo-dad or cool thing XYZ. If you are a mentor, ask a student to explain. If you are a student and don't know the answer, get another student that does. If the knowledgeable people are out on the field, let them know that they will be back after the match. Mentors and students alike: Prepare with information. Create a robot spec sheet to hand out, have a scrapbook on hand to show activities. Use your copious witholding allowance to demonstrate assembled mechanisms. Most importantly - Train the students and mentors that will be manning the pits. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way in making a good impression.

This goes for talking to anyone, not just judges.

Some good hints here. If you want some more about the judging experiencea and preparing for judging, I did a presentation for the local teams last fall. Following the links from NEMO for "Judging 101" slideshow. http://www.firstnemo.org/resources.htm

[Teched3]

I would also recommend that you put together a "pit box" that contains crucial tools and spare parts, especially if you continue to compete Saturday afternoon. Run through a checklist you have prepared while in your pit area before you queue up for a match during qualification.

[DonRotolo]

Bring a small broom and dustpan to keep your pit area clean. Nobody likes to see a pit covered with clipped zip ties and aluminum dust; it's more of a sty.

Thanks Sam for starting this post. Not one word of it is anything less than the best advice you can get.

[davidthefat]

Now are there any rules regarding playing video games in the pit? I remember last year as a rookie playing madden all day because I had no idea what to do. Unless someone told me to fix something in the code.


Honestly this year I am so stoked to go to the regionals. I won't be playing Madden

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Now are there any rules regarding playing video games in the pit? I remember last year as a rookie playing madden all day because I had no idea what to do. Unless someone told me to fix something in the code.


Honestly this year I am so stoked to go to the regionals. I won't be playing Madden

Realizing there are pit duties for those who are there, it is always nice to take breaks and tour the pits and arena, meeting people from teams. What is very helpful is having a veteran team member understand the importance of this and take the rookie around during the competition. For those who do not have pit duty, one way to meet people is to offer to be the mascot's handler - helping them navigate, hand out give-aways, and helping to keep them hydrated. Some of our shy students have really enjoyed that job. It helped them with their shyness and it provided them with an opportunity to work on their social skills and their elevator speeches without making them feel any pressure because - the spotlight/attention was on the mascot.

Jane